My company has started nstalling and running setups with two niche conditions:
A) multichannel audio from a computer to multiple amps to multiple speakers. Switching the input to a non-computer source is desired (eg. sometimes just have a stereo input from another source that goes out to all six speakers).
B) sending audio to multiple computers for audio-reactive or LTC (SMPTE) input
-For both of these situations we use audio interfaces like the NI Komplete Audio 6 on every computer that has input or output, receiving and sending analog signals (the last two outputs of the KA6 are digital, but we just convert those with a DAC)
-For signal duplication and switching we use headphone-amps or mini-mixers respectively. When dealing with multichannel, we'll use multiple mini-mixers so that we can have distinct inputs and outputs for each pair of speakers.
These setups feel cumbersome and inefficient. Is there a better way to route multi-channel audio data between computers and amps/speakers? Would routing it in digital form be more efficient? If so, what equipment/methodology do you recommend for doing so?
A) multichannel audio from a computer to multiple amps to multiple speakers. Switching the input to a non-computer source is desired (eg. sometimes just have a stereo input from another source that goes out to all six speakers).
B) sending audio to multiple computers for audio-reactive or LTC (SMPTE) input
-For both of these situations we use audio interfaces like the NI Komplete Audio 6 on every computer that has input or output, receiving and sending analog signals (the last two outputs of the KA6 are digital, but we just convert those with a DAC)
-For signal duplication and switching we use headphone-amps or mini-mixers respectively. When dealing with multichannel, we'll use multiple mini-mixers so that we can have distinct inputs and outputs for each pair of speakers.
These setups feel cumbersome and inefficient. Is there a better way to route multi-channel audio data between computers and amps/speakers? Would routing it in digital form be more efficient? If so, what equipment/methodology do you recommend for doing so?